Doctor Who executives say they want to land the Tardis in New Zealand and it's beyond flattering that Peter Jackson wants to direct an episode of the hit show.

The Doctor himself, Matt Smith, urged the Waikato Times to tell Jackson last Tuesday he would like him to take the directorial reins and said he would "campaign endlessly" to film here. Within hours The Hobbit director responded with: "I'm a huge Doctor Who fan, and I think Matt's fantastic. Just name a time and place, and I'll be there!"

Wellington-based scriptwriter Neil Cross, a friend of one of the show's executive producers, Caro Skinner, then said he'd love to write a story that could only be shot in New Zealand and urged Skinner to speak to the Times.

"It is beyond wonderful that Peter is a fan of the show and it's beyond flattering that he'd even think about it," Skinner said. "I'm absolutely sure that we couldn't afford him but, you know, we can always negotiate. His enthusiasm is just fantastic of course."

Well the big weekend has arrived in NZ..... Documentaries and old Dr Who episodes both days... starting in a few minutes at 6:25 AM.

It is part of the 50th year celebrations. Tomorrow morning at 9:25 we get to see the much publicised 50th SPECIAL. The screening coincides with an 8:30 PM screening in UK... so we all get to see it at the same time. Not sure if at least some places in USA will also have access? I'll try not to post any "spoilers"... but that is tomorrow. Rest of the weekend is old episodes. I'll watch as many as I can. The very old ones are more for amusement at how hokey BBC "special effects" were back then But despite the dubious special effects... and shaky scenery etc... the show had something back then... at least for kids and teens... and "that is history" as they say. Dr Who now has a huge cult following.

I have read that back in Dr Who Central (Cardiff) where I was recently... there is an extended Dr Who Experience... taking in the studios as well.... and for the live screening of this 50th Special... people can take part in being a captured group of humans... frog marched up the road by a squad of CYBER MEN to a Theatre where a screening will take place... that would be fun. I met a few Cyber men (and Daleks) myself at the Dr Who Experience

_________________Do not go gentle into that good night.___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

There was a bit of a "cock-up" on the planned TV watching front. The Special is on a DIFFERENT channel to the channel airing the weekend Marathon of past episodes. By the time I realised that, I would have missed the first 20 minute of the Special when it was broadcast "live" here... at same time as in UK... so I decided to wait and watch the whole thing (including the start) when it is repeated tonight (soon).

Mean while the Marathon was GREAT. All weekend showed little "behind the scenes" analysis of each Dr as the show progressed over the years.. interviews with actors and directors, producers etc gave a LOT of good info... then there were episodes form each series... all 11 Dr's. Not every show ever broadcast... 50 years worth would take a lot longer than 2 days... but enough to be reminded of the show over the years... and I was a a fan from day one and continued to watch for the entire 50 years!

There was also a play... a dramatised version of how the show got started... the executive BBC producer who had the original idea... the FEMALE producer who made it happen (despite her inexperience and the rampant sexism in the business at that time, as well as a lot of pessimism for various reasons ..... the director, actors etc etc etc faced a lot of hurdles to get the first show aired at all... then the debut night was the night Kennedy assassinaion hit the news.... and so most viewers were watching the news....... a lot of things against it ever getting off the ground..... so all good "drama"... the struggle against the odds

The Special includes John Hurt playing a "extra Dr" (see the youtube above)... never part of a TV series... but slotted in (short internet clip.... labelled a "minisode") as a Dr that regenerated between the 8th Dr and the 9th Dr. The 8th Dr being the last Dr before the show was discontinued for several years, before being "Re-booted" by BBC Wales. As the "new era Dr Who" show starts the 9th Dr (played by Christopher Eccleston) has clearly just regenerated, and there is reference to a "Time War" that has gone on since we last saw Dr Who (the 8th played by McGann). Apparently Dr Who ended the "Time War" by destroying both sides.... the Daleks and the Time Lords... so he is the LAST of his own race and the Daleks are gone once and for all (fat chance) So...there is a gap where anything could have happened... and so the "minisode" proposes that the was a "War Dr" during that period who had to make the decision to commit "double genocide". I await the SPECIAL to learn more about the "War Dr"

As I watched the shows today it was STRESSED that the Dr's regeneration is limited to 13 lives. We have the "11 Dr's" from the TV series... and the extra one they just slotted in. There is already a new Dr for the next series.... so that makes all 13 will have been seen..... Dr Who is a Multimillion dollar marketing "brand" now. I can NOT see them ending it after the next Dr plays the part... so there will have to be some clever plot device to get past the 13 Dr limit

_________________Do not go gentle into that good night.___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

The opening of the Special includes scenes of the Dr and Tardis in London... all places VERY familiar to me now since my recent trip to London... it makes a HUGE difference to know the places.. places I have walked just a few weeks ago

_________________Do not go gentle into that good night.___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Doctor Who actress Jenna Coleman has revealed she was ‘angry’ when Matt Smith decided to leave the series.

Speaking at the Doctor Who Official 50th Celebration at London’s ExCeL, Coleman said filming Smith’s final episode – the Christmas special – was ‘awful’.

‘We’ve just filmed the Christmas episode. It was pretty awful,’ she said.

‘It was a bit of whirlwind. It was incredibly exciting because you’re welcoming in a new Doctor (Peter Capaldi) but then at the same time you’re also feeling incredibly heartbroken and kind of angry as well.’

Smith’s final episode will be broadcast on Christmas Day and viewers will see the 11th Doctor regenerate – ushering in The Thick of It actor Peter Capaldi as the new Time Lord.

...more at link

_________________Do not go gentle into that good night.___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Peter Capaldi makes Doctor Who debut in The Day of the Doctor 50th anniversary special cameo24 Nov 2013 12:22

But following the regeneration of John Hurt's War Doctor, will new Doctor be the Twelfth... or number thirteen?

Peter Capaldi made his Doctor Who debut in a blink and miss it cameo during the BBC sci-fi favourite's star-studded 50th anniversary special.

The uncredited appearance in The Day of The Doctor came as footage of the role's previous incarnations was repurposed for the feature-length episode's climax, ensuring every Time Lord actor was honoured as part of the celebration.

Nine other faces of the space adventurer were seen coming together with Who stars Matt Smith, David Tennant and John Hurt for a storyline in which the TARDIS owner's various guises pooled resources to calculate a seemingly-impossible solution to save Gallifrey from Dalek attack.

A piercing glare from the Twelfth Doctor then flashed up on screen, following a brief sight of a TARDIS-style lever being pulled.Fourth Doctor Tom Baker also made a surprise showing - 32 years after he put down his sonic screwdriver - as a character hinting to Smith's Doctor that his efforts did save Gallifrey from destruction.

And while it sounded as if it may have been Baker's voice announcing 'number thirteen's' arrival, viewers pondered whether the words were actually spoken by Capaldi, indicating that the Glasgow-born actor may soften his Scottish accent for the international hit show.